It is the first time in China a journalist has been appointed the leader of a large company.

Qiu Xudong, previously the editor-in-chief of the Hefei Evening News, has replaced the company's former leader who resigned at the shareholders' congress and board meeting Friday.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shiping, a national model worker nominated by Qiu, has become president of the company.

Qiu, 49, is a member of the board of directors of the All-China Journalists Association and a vice chairman of Anhui's provincial journalists association.

Royalstar, which is located in Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province, east China, manufactures washing machines, refrigerators and water-heaters for home-use.

Currently it has over three billion yuan in fix assets and annual sales of 1.2 billion yuan.

(eastday.com July 29, 2002)